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DIY Sensory Swing

Board (We found ours in the scrap pile at Home Depot for $1. Its is 2.5′x21″ – but you can use any size)

Rope (also bought from Home Depot)

Zip ties

bath mat (I got the cheapest I could find to fit the board at Walmart)

staple gun

Here is a full view of the swing. The first thing we did was drill the holes in each corner of the board and then we cut out the circle board and drilled the holes in it (this piece keeps the ropes from caving in on the child).

This is the attachment. We secured a piece of wood to the garage ceiling and then secured the swing attachment. We ran two ropes through a ring and bundled it with a zip tie to keep it from slipping.Click HERE for swing attachment.

A closer look

This is the circular piece. There are zip ties under each hole to keep it from sliding down.

I used a staple gun to wrap the board with a bath mat, cut slits in the mat, and ran the ropes through.

There really isn’t a difference, but special needs parents will search the web or a catalog using the phrase sensory swing. One example is a net swing. If you saw one you’d say it’s just a hammock. But for a child who has special needs. the pressure of a net swing helps regulate their bodies. In addition, the swinging motion of any swing promotes coordination, spatial awareness and has other therapeutic aspects that aren’t outwardly apparent.

Wow, how funny, I wanted my husband to make a platform swing for my daughter with sensory needs, and searched and searched online for someone to give a how-to! Then he just bought some parts last night, and I stumble upon your blog today via pinterest. Thanks for this post!

Silly (?) question: I’d like to install ours in our living room (kiddo on spectrum LOVES this kind of swing), but I’m not confident about hanging it. Do you just kind of use a stud finder to locate a beam above the drywall/sheetrock? Thanks so much for the tutorial!

I just made this swing for my son today and am having a hard time getting it to be level. It’ll look level and then nice the rope gives under pressure it’s just enough off to throw off your balance. I got on it and even I had a hard time not falling off, I can’t even imagine how hard it would be for my two year old to stay on. Any suggestions?

Ashleysays:

Hello- I have questions about attaching the swing- in the OT clinic the swings need to be able to withstand 1000 pounds at a 45 degree angle, does this attachment work for that? I want to attach something in my basement, where we have exposed beams. I plan on having my children do rotational and orbital movements, and want to make sure they are safe. Thanks!

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